Stabilizer for archery bow

ABSTRACT

A stabilizer for archery bow comprising an elongated rod member having a weighting element at one end thereof, a number of resilient members each constructed in the form of a plurality of radially extending resilient elements or in the form of a radially extending disklike resilient element, for supporting the other end of the rod member. A housing is provided as a structural member for supporting the radially outward ends of the plurality of radially extending resilient elements or the circumferential portion of the disklike resilient element, whereby when the stabilizer is attached on the archery bow, any shock or vibration created in the archery bow is effectively absorbed and damped out within the stabilizer. In the stabilizer, a screw member for adjusting the tension of the resilient member or members may be further provided between the resilient members.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Tadao lzuta Hamamatsu, Japan .[21] Appl. No. 49,806

[22] Filed June 25, 1970 {45] Patented Dec.2l, 1971 [73] Assignee Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha l-lamamatsu-shi, Japan [32] Priorities Feb. 21, 1970 [33] Japan [31] 45/167119;

Feb. 21, 1970, Japan, No. 45/16720; Feb. 21, 1970, Japan, No. 45/1461) [54] STABILIZER FOR ARCHERY BOW 11 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 124/30 R, 124/24 [51] lnt.Cl F4lb 5/00 [50] Field of Search 124/30 R, 22, 23, 24, 25, 41;248/20, 15, 2,18

[5 6 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,412,725 11/1968 Hoyt 124/30 RX Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne Anomey-David H. Semmes ABSTRACT: A stabilizer for archery bow comprising an elongated rod member having a weighting element at one end thereof, a number of resilient members each constructed in the form of a plurality of radially extending resilient elements or in the form of a radially extending disklike resilient element, for supporting the other end of the rod member. A housing is provided as a structural member for supporting the radially outward ends of the plurality of radially extending resilient elements or the circumferential portion of the disklike resilient element, whereby when the stabilizer is attached on the archery bow, any shock or vibration created in the archery bow is effectively absorbed and damped out within the stabilizer. In the stabilizer, a screw member for adjusting the tension of the resilient member or members may be further provided between the resilient: members.

mmsu 05021 m 3,628,520

SHEET 1 [1F 1 FIGJ TADAO IZ UTA I NVEN TOR BY DAVID H. SEMMES ATTORNEY PATENIEUnsmam @SZBLE SHEET 2 OF a TADAO IZ UTA INVENTOR BY DAVID H. SEMIVIES ATTORNEY PATENTEU 05021 SHEET 3 OF 4 BY DAVID H. SEMMES ATTORNEY PATENTEUHEEZ? 3,628,520

SHEET a [1F 4 TADAO IZUTA INVENTOR BY DAVID H SEMMES ATTORNEY STABlLI-ZER FOR ARCHERY BOW BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to archery bows, and more particularly to a stabilizer. to be attached on the archery bow for absorbing and damping out shocks and vibrations caused in the archery bow.

when an arrow is notched and the archery bow is drawn, a slight vibration in the archers hands, which are placed under an extreme tension, may cause so-called strain shake" on the part of the archery bow, and when the arrow is released, a strong shock followed by vibrations is created in the limbs and the grip portion of the bow as a result of the instantaneous resumption of these portions of the bow to their original positions and partly from the reason of the reaction caused by the arrow released from the archery bow. An object of the stabilizer is in absorbing the energy of the shock and the vibrations and also in damping out the vibrations, so that the archers hand is dully protected from the transmission of the strong shock and vibrations following thereafter.

Furthermore, at the time when the archery bow is brought into a drawn state, it is very difficult forthe archer to sense and adjust any inclination caused on the bow around its transverse axis. Provision of the stabilizer further allows to compensate the unbalance of the moment of inertia around the transverse axis passing through the center of gravity, and the hitting rate of the archery bow can be substantially improved.

However, most of the heretofore employed stabilizers have employed a construction comprising a weighting element integrally formed with a rod portion of a considerable length, and the above-described absorption of the shocks and vibrations and the compensation of the unbalanced moment of inertia have been effected by means of the rod and the weighting element in combination. Since the substantial part of the shock and the vibration energy caused therein should be absorbed within the rod and the weighting element in combination, and no appreciable damping means have been employed, the damping effect in the conventional stabilizer could not be sufficiently large. Furthermore, none of the conventional stabilizers have had adjustable means for the damping and absorbing effect thereof, and as a matter of worse, there have been limitations with respect to the directions of the vibrations which can be absorbed by the conventional-type stabilizers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved type of stabilizer which allows to overcome substantially all of the above-described drawbacks of the conventional stabilizers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved-type stabilizer wherein effective damping means are provided.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel type of stabilizer wherein means for adjusting the vibration absorbing and damping characteristics are provided.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved type of stabilizer, wherein not only the vibrations in the transversal directions against the length of the rod and weighting element combination, but also a shock along the longitudinal axis of the combination may be absorbed.

These and other objects of the present invention can be achieved by an improved type of the stabilizer wherein means for damping and absorbing vibrations and shocks are provided besides the conventional weighting element and a rod combination, whereby vibrations and shocks in substantially all directions are allowed to be absorbed and clamped within the stabilizer.

Preferably, the damping and absorbing means may be constructed in the form of a plurality of resilient members radially extended from an end of a rod member, on the other end of which is integrally connected a weighting element, and the outer ends of the resilient members may be fixed to an annular member having a centrally located connecting portion to be connected to a desired position of the grip (handle riser) of the archery bow.

Preferably, the damping and absorbing means may also be constructed in the form of a diaphragm-shaped resilient member having a plurality of radially extended limbs extended from the rear end of the rod member, and the outer periphery of the resilient member may be internally fixed to a housing having a centrally located connecting portion to be fixed to a desired position of the archery bow.

Alternatively, the damping and absorbing means may include two resilient members of similar construction as described above and spaced apart each other on a shaft coupled to the above-mentioned rod member, so that the outer periphery of the two resilient members may be internally fixed to a housing having a centrally located connecting portion which in turn is fixed to a desired position of the grip portion of the archery bow.

Alternatively, the forward resilient member within the two resilient members may be constructed in the form of a grommet detachably mounted inside of the forward portion of the same housing which also internally accommodates the other resilient member, and the housing may be attached to the archery bow by means of the connecting portion.

Advantageously, a sleeve member may be interposed between the forward and rearward portions of the housing, so that a considerable distance is maintained between the two resilient members, and the shock and vibrations in the axial direction of the stabilizer can be more effectively absorbed in the stabilizer.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a profile view schematically showing the manner wherein a stabilizer constituting a first embodiment of the invention is attached on an archery bow;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a stabilizer constituting the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view, partly in section, taken along the line III--III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the same embodiment taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a stabilizer constituting the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the same embodiment taken along the line Vl-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic profile view showing a stabilizer constituting the second embodiment being attached on an archery bow;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a stabilizer constituting the third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a front view of the same embodiment of the invention;

FIG. I1 is a cross-sectional view of the same embodiment taken along the line XIXI in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 12 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a stabilizer constituting the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1 showing the outline of a stabilizer constituting a first embodiment of the invention attached to an archery bow, it will be apparent that the stabilizer comprises a weighting element 1 made of a metal, a rod member 2 made of a light metal alloy, or FRP (fiber reinforced plastics), or the like, and rigidly connected to the weighting element 1, and a structural member generally indicated by numeral 3 and having a connecting portion to beattached to an archery bow generally designated by numeral 10.

first embodiment of the invention is indicated in H08. 2, 3, and 4. As is apparent from the drawing, the rod member 2 rigidly connected to the weighting element 1 at the forward end thereof is further provided on the rearward end a flange 2l'and a threaded portion 22. On the other hand, the structural member generally designated by'numeral 3 further comprises a rim 31, a stem portion 32 having a rearwardly extending threaded portion 33, and a plurality of arms 34 interconnecting the rim 3] and the stern portion 32. interposed between the rod member 2 and the structural member 3, there is provided a resilient member generally designated by numeral 4. The resilient member 4 further comprises a boss 41 and a plurality of radially extended beltlike portions 42, all constructed in one body made of a resilient material such as rubber.

The boss 41 of the resilient member 4 is provided with a central hole of a diameter equivalent to the outside diameter of the threaded portion 22 of the rod member 2, so that the latter is inserted into the hole of the boss 41 until the flange 21 abuts the forward surface of the boss 41, and the resilient member 4 is firmly held in this position by means of a washer 23 and a nut 24 having a large size. The outer ends of the beltlike portions 42 of the resilient member 4 are wound around the rim 31 of the structural member 3 and clamped therein by means of, for instance, rivets 43.

With the above-described construction of the stabilizer constituting the first embodiment of the invention, when the threaded portion 33 is driven into a tapped hole in the grip of the bow 10, any shock or vibration created in the archery bow 10 will be transmitted from the archery bow 10 to the structural member 3 and then transferred from the structural member 3 to the vibration member consisting of the weighting element 1 and the rod member 2 through the resilient member 4.

Because of the existence of the resilient member 4 which includes a plurality of radially disposed resilient elements consisting of an elastic material such as rubber, the shock and vibration transmitted through the structural member 3 to the oscillation member consisting of the weighting element 1 and the rod member 2 may cause a vibration in any lateral direction adapted to absorb the thus transmitted vibration or shock and also an oscillation along the longitudinal direction of the stabilizer with the amplitudes of the vibration and the oscillation being far greater than those of the conventional stabilizer, whereby the vibration or shock created in the archery bow 10 is effectively absorbed and damped out within the resilient member 4 in the stabilizer of this embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, because of the moment of inertia of the stabilizer according to the invention, the balancing of the archery bow itself can be much improved, and another advantageous effect of being constructed in compact form may also be obtained.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, there is indicated a second form of the stabilizer according to the invention. in this embodiment, the structural member of the previous embodiment is constructed in the form of housing member 3 comprising three pieces 3a, 3b, and 30 arranged in this order, and assembled together, for instance, by thread engagement. Within the housing 3, there are included two resilient members 4a and 4b mounted on a stub shaft generally indicated at and divided into three portions 5a, 5b, and 5c. The forward portion 50 is connected to the rod member 2, for instance, by thread engagement and the middle portion 5b thereof is threaded. The two resilient members 4a and 4b are made of a resilient material such as rubber as in the case of the first embodiment and are formed into a similar configuration having a central portion, a plurality of arms radially extended and having reinforcing ribs 4b on one side of the arms, and a circumferential rim portion, all constructed integrally in one body. The circumferential portion of the resilient member 4a is clamped between the rear sidepiece 3a and the intermediate cylindrical piece 3b, and the circumferential portion of the resilient member 4b is clamped between the intermediate piece 3b and the forward piece 3:: of the housing member 3, so that the two members are fixed internally to the housing member 3. The central portions of the resilient members 4b is integrally joined with metal bushing 46 having an enlarged portion at one end thereof. The resilient members 4a and 4b thus formed are mounted as described above on the forward portion 5c and the rearward portion 5a of the stub shaft 5 so that the enlarged portions of the bushing 46 included in the central portions of the resilient members are disposed inwardly facing to an adjusting screw 6 thread engaged on the middle portion 5b of the stub shaft 5 and that the resilient member 4b is fixed on the forward portion 5c of the stub shaft and the resilient member 4a is slidably mounted on the rearward portion 5a of the same shaft. With the above described construction of the resilient members, adjusting screw 6, and the stub shaft 5 one end of which is connected to the rod member 2, when the adjusting screw 6 is manually rotated through windows 8 provided in the intermediate cylindrical piece 3b of the housing member 3, the adjusting screw 6 is, for instance, shifted to rearward over the stub shaft 5 on the forward end of which is fixedly mounted the resilient member 4b, and the rearward end of the screw 6 urges the enlarged portion of the bushing included in the resilient member 40 rearwardly, whereby the distance between the two resilient members 4a is enlarged and the tension of the two resilient membets are strengthened. The forward piece 30 of the housing member is constructed in the form of a clamping ring, and for this reason the tensioning' condition of the resilient members may be observed from the central window as clearly shown in FIG. 7. The rear piece 3a of the housing member 3 has a rearwardly extended threaded portion 33 which is threaded into a tapped hole in the grip portion of the archery bow 10 as schematically indicated in H0. 8.

With the above described construction of the stabilizer, any shock or vibration caused in the archery bow 10 is at first conveyed to the housing 3 of the stabilizer, and then through the resilient members 40 and 4b it is transmitted to the rod 2 and the weighting element 1, whereby the weighting element 1 and the rod 2 in combination are vibrated with two positions in the vibration system being supported by the two resilient members 40 and 4b, and the vibration is attenuated in a short period because of the damping effect of the resilient members. The damping effect of the two resilient members may be varied as described above by means of the adjusting screw 6 which vaties the tension of the two resilient members as described before.

Advantageous features of the stabilizer constituting the second embodiment may therefore be summarized in that a better damping effect is obtained because of the existence of two resilient members, the vibration of the rod and the weighting element in combination can be adjusted to suit to the self-oscillation characteristic of the archery bow, and that the rod member and the weighting element can be oscillated in the longitudinal direction of the stabilizer effectively.

Referring to FIGS. 9 through 1 1, there is illustrated a stabilizer constituting a third embodiment of the invention. In the third embodiment, most of the construction is similar to that of the second embodiment described above except that the intermediate cylindrical piece 3b is forwardly reduced its diameter to be engaged with the forward piece 3c of also reduced diameter to accommodate the forward resilient member 4b which is in this embodiment formed into a grommet. The peripheral edge of the grommet is received in a groove provided on the inside surface of the forward piece 30 of the housing member 3, and the grommet 4b is indicated to be mounted fixedly on the forward portion 5c of the stub shaft 5, which is in this embodiment is formed to have an equivalent diameter to that of the bushing included in the central portion of the rearward resilient member 4a. However, of course it is possible to construct the grommet 4b and the related portion of the stub shaft 5 in such a manner that the grommet 4b integrally includes a bushing as described in the second embodiment of the invention, which is fixedly mounted on the forward portion 5c of the stub shaft 5, the portion 50 in such a case being formed to have an equivalent diameter as that of the portion 511. However, in such a construction, the forward end portion of the stub shaft must be so constructed that the grommet with the bushing may be inserted from the forward end of the stub shaft.

When the above described stabilizer of the third embodiment of the invention is attached on the grip portion of the archery bow with the threaded portion 33 being engaged with a tapped hole provided in the grip portion, any shock or vibration created in the archery bow 10 is conveyed to the housing 3 of the stabilizer and then transmitted to the weighting element l and the rod member 2 through the resilient member 4a, and the weighting element 1 and the rod member 2 are oscillated with the oscillation system supported by the grommet 4b and the resilient member 4a, and the oscillation characteristic may be adjusted to suit to the self-oscillating feature of the archery bow 10 by means of the tension adjusting screw 6 thread engaged on the threaded portion 5b of the stub shaft 5. The oscillation of the weighting element and the rod member is thus attenuated in a short period through the damping effect of the resilient member 4a, and an excellent stabilizing effect of the archery bow can be thereby obtained.

In FIG. 12, there is indicated still another form of the stabilizer which constitutes a fourth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the housing member 3 is further added with an extension member 3d consisting of a sleeve made of a comparatively light metal or a synthetic resin between the housing pieces 31) and so that the distance between the grommet 4b and the resilient member 4a is further extended. The rod member 2 intrudes through the grommet 4b deep into the extension sleeve 3d and the piece 3b until it reaches the position where the forward surface of a collar formed on the stub shaft 5 abuts the rear end of the rod member 2 and a forward end portion of the stub shaft 5 is inserted inside of the rod member 2 so that the rod member 2 and the stub shaft 5 on which the resilient member 4a is fixedly mounted are rigidly joined together. It should be noted that the tension-adjusting screw 6 in the third embodiment is omitted in this embodiment, but may be employed when necessary. When the threaded portion 33 centrally and integrally extended from the rear end piece 3a of the housing member 3 is engaged into a tapped hole provided in a grip portion of the archery bow it), any oscillation or shock caused in the archery bow is transmitted through the housing member 3 and the resilient member 4la to the rod member 2 and the weighting element ll, and the weighting element 1 and rod member 2 are oscillated. it has been found that the oscillation of the weighting element 1 and the rod member 2 in this embodiment is more severe than that of these elements in the case of the conventional construction of the stabilizer, and furthermore, the weighting element 1 and the rod member 2 can be oscillated in the longitudinal direction of the stabilizer in an extent that the resilient member 4a can be deflected in that direction. That is, the rod member 2 resiliently supported inside of the extension sleeve 3d and other housing pieces is vibrated synchronizedly to the vibration of the housing member 3 in the lateral direction of the stabilizer, and in addition, the rod member 2 is driven out of the housing member 3 against the resilient force of the grommet 4b and the resilient member 40 at the time a strong shock is transmitted from the archery bow in the longitudinal direction of the stabilizer and then retracted by the resilient member 4a rearwardly, whereby a severe vibration in that direction is created inside of the stabilizer.

connecting t he central portion and the peripheral portion, or the connections between the rod member and the stub shaft may be of any suitable types than those described above. For this reason, it should be noted that all of the modification and the alterations are included in the scope of the present invention which is defined in the following patent claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A stabilizer for an archery bow comprising an elongated member having a weighting element at one end thereof, resilient means engaging the elongated, said resilient means including at least two separate groups of longitudinally spaced-apart radially extending resilient members for supporting said elongated member at the other end thereof, and structural means for supporting and housing said radially extending resilient members and said resilient means dampening the vibrations of a low limb after projection of an arrow.

2. A stabilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said other end of the elongated member is supported by central portions of said groups of radially extending resilient members.

3. A stabilizer as defined in claim 2 wherein said structural means includes a circumferential rim portion, and the outer ends of said plurality of radially extending resilient members are clamped on said circumferential rim portion.

4. A stabilizer as defined in claim 1 further comprising a housing, said housing fixedly supports the radially extending members of said resilient members.

5. A stabilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient members are arranged to form disltlilte members, and said housing supports the radially extending members of said resilient members in a fixed manner.

6. A stabilizer as defined in claim 5 wherein an adjusting screw for varying the tension of said spaced-apart groups of resilient members is further provided between said two resilient members.

7. A stabilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein one group of said spaced-apart groups of resilient members is a grommet in said structural means including said grommet, and said elongated member is in supported by said group of said group of spaced-apart resilient members and said one grommet.

8. A stabilizer as defined in claim 7 wherein said structural comprises a housing, said housing fixedly supports the radially extending resilient members of another group of said groups of spaced-apart resilient members and of said grommet.

9. A stabilizer as defined in claim d wherein an adjusting screw for adjusting the tension of said another group of said group of spaced-apart resilient member is further provided between said another group of said group of spaced-apart resilient members and said grommet.

10. A stabilizer as defined in claim 9 wherein a stub shaft being provided for mounting said members and said grommet, and one end of said stub shaft being fixedly connected to said elongated member.

11. A stabilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein each group of said groups of spaced-apart resilient members is formed in the shape of a disklike member, said structural means comprising a housing of a comparatively long length, and said elongated member is made into a rod member which passes through a grommet and is connected to said disltlilte member. 

1. A stabilizer for an archery bow comprising an elongated member having a weighting element at one end thereof, resilient means engaging the elongated, said resilient means including at least two separate groups of longitudinally spaced-apart radially extending resilient members for supporting said elongated member at the other end thereof, and structural means for supporting and housing said radially extending resilient members and said resilient means dampening the vibrations of a low limb after projection of an arrow.
 2. A stabilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said other end of the elongated member is supported by central portions of said groups of radially extending resilient members.
 3. A stabilizer as defined in claim 2 wherein said structural means includes a circumferential rim portion, and the outer ends of said plurality of radially extending resilient members are clamped on said circumferential rim portion.
 4. A stabilizer as defined in claim 1 further comprising a housing, said housing fixedly supports the radially extending members of said resilient members.
 5. A stabilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient members are arranged to form disklike members, and said housing supports the rAdially extending members of said resilient members in a fixed manner.
 6. A stabilizer as defined in claim 5 wherein an adjusting screw for varying the tension of said spaced-apart groups of resilient members is further provided between said two resilient members.
 7. A stabilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein one group of said spaced-apart groups of resilient members is a grommet in said structural means including said grommet, and said elongated member is in supported by said group of said group of spaced-apart resilient members and said one grommet.
 8. A stabilizer as defined in claim 7 wherein said structural comprises a housing, said housing fixedly supports the radially extending resilient members of another group of said groups of spaced-apart resilient members and of said grommet.
 9. A stabilizer as defined in claim 8 wherein an adjusting screw for adjusting the tension of said another group of said group of spaced-apart resilient member is further provided between said another group of said group of spaced-apart resilient members and said grommet.
 10. A stabilizer as defined in claim 9 wherein a stub shaft being provided for mounting said members and said grommet, and one end of said stub shaft being fixedly connected to said elongated member.
 11. A stabilizer as defined in claim 1 wherein each group of said groups of spaced-apart resilient members is formed in the shape of a disklike member, said structural means comprising a housing of a comparatively long length, and said elongated member is made into a rod member which passes through a grommet and is connected to said disklike member. 